Research

Current Research

Adaptation and Resilience in Habitat Planning: Coupled Human and Natural Systems Models of Oak Management in a Changing Climate

Oak forests provide important habitat for many of the highest priority wildlife species in southern Michigan. Maintenance and expansion of oak forests is a goal in many of the Michigan DNR’s State Game Area Master Plans. Despite their emphasis in wildlife management plans, oaks are neither stable nor increasing, except on very dry sites. Oaks on mesic sites in Michigan are shifting over time from fire-maintained oak systems to fire-suppressed maple systems. The research design for this study involves modeling oak forest sustainability at the landscape scale under realistic management and climate regimes.

Ph.D. Student: Christopher Hoving

American Woodcock Reproductive Rates in Relation to Forest Structure at Local and Landscape Scales

Long-term declines in American woodcock (Scolopax minor) abundance have been documented in Michigan as well as range-wide since consistent monitoring began in 1968. Available demographic estimates for woodcock support the idea that declines in abundance are due at least in part to declines in reproductive rates associated with changes in habitat characteristics. In order to better understand the relationship between habitat management and woodcock population dynamics, we will determine the effects of landscape and local habitat characteristics on woodcock reproductive rates in two distinct ecological regions of Michigan.

M.S. Student: Ashley Huinker

Evaluating the Impacts of Landscape-level Changes on the Abundance and Distribution of Trophy White-tailed Deer

There are obvious differences in the distribution of record book white-tailed deer harvested across the United States, with the majority of harvests occurring in the Midwest region. Understanding how landscape-level processes impact the occurrence of record book deer is important, because there is ongoing interest in management practices that improve the overall quality of the deer herd and increase the number of large bucks. This research will examine spatial and temporal patterns in the distribution of older age class and record-quality bucks harvested in the Midwest. Results will be used to inform managers about the influence of habitat conditions, harvest regulations, and hunting traditions on characteristics of record book white-tailed deer.

Ph.D. Student: Rebecca Cain

Evaluating the Interaction of Emerging Diseases on White-tailed Deer Populations

Deer management in Michigan faces serious threats from three significant diseases: chronic wasting disease (CWD), epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), and bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Recent outbreaks of EHD and CWD in similar areas of southern Michigan demonstrate that we may soon face a situation where we need to understand the interaction of these diseases. We are working to couple disease prevalence information with spatial and temporal drivers of EHD and CWD to understand the role of two emerging and potentially interacting diseases on deer populations in Michigan. Further, we seek to better understand why these diseases have increased in frequency and distribution in Michigan. Ultimately, we hope to provide spatially-explicit models that anticipate future scenarios for deer management and disease risk.

Postdoctoral Research Associate: Sonja Christensen

Management Solutions for Chronic Wasting Disease

Preserving the health of white-tailed deer populations is a top priority for state and federal resource agencies because of their role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, preserving our hunting heritage, and providing a stable source of wildlife funding. The emergence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in free-ranging cervid populations threatens the sustainable future of white-tailed deer because long-term population declines are associated with this disease. This project aims to develop scientifically-based surveillance and monitoring techniques through risk-based assessments of human and wildlife factors associated with CWD outbreaks. Using data from CWD-endemic areas provides valuable insight into how CWD spreads on the landscape and why the disease can show sporadic distribution. The ultimate goal of the project is to identify and remove diseased animals quickly before CWD becomes well-established.

Ph.D. Students: Jonathan Cook, Noelle Thompson and Jonathan Trudeau; Postdoctoral Research Associate: Aniruddha Belsare

Midwest Wild Turkey Consortium

The restoration of wild turkeys in North America during the 20th century is a well-known success story in wildlife management. The trajectory of turkey populations continued to increase early into the 21st century. However, turkey program leaders from across the Midwest began to detect shifts in the trend of turkey populations over the past several years. In 2013, the Midwest Wild Turkey Consortium (MWTC) was established to understand these shifting population trends. The mission of the MWTC is to help turkey program leaders understand wild turkey ecology and management in the modern era at a landscape-scale.

The MWTC is housed in the Boone and Crockett Quantitative Wildlife Center in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University.

Monitoring Brown Bear Abundance in Katmai National Park, Alaska

Southwest Alaska’s Bristol Bay is home to a large brown bear population. This area also boasts one of the world's largest naturally occurring salmon runs. Katmai National Park‘s mission is to preserve brown bear habitat and the salmon spawning grounds where coastal bears derive much of their nutrients. This study will investigate changes in brown bear abundance along Brooks River over time, and investigate how factors such as variable salmon runs and increased park visitation may play a role in changing the carrying capacity for bears on the landscape. Understanding changes in brown bear abundance can help not only preserve bear viewing and wilderness experiences for future generations, but can also help preserve a healthy and successful salmon fishing industry.

M.S. Student: Leslie Skora

Potential Wolf Expansion into the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan: Impacts on Cervid Ecology and Local Economies

The recovery of gray wolves in the Great Lakes region has led to an established population in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Documented sightings of wolves in the Northern Lower Peninsula (NLP) of Michigan have highlighted the possibility of continued expansion across the state. The NLP features a sizable population of white-tailed deer as well as a population of elk, which are both considered valuable state resources. Thus, the appearance of wolves may not only impact wild cervid populations but also affect local economies. We will investigate potential impacts of wolf expansion into the NLP. The project will integrate ecological and economic models to better inform wildlife policy.

Ph.D. Student: Nick Jaffe

Unraveling the Effects of Policy: Land Protections, Habitat Quality, and Human Wellbeing in the U.S. Northern Forest

Habitat loss is an important driver of the decline in wildlife worldwide, and conservation groups often advocate expansion of protected areas as a solution. Protected areas are generally recognized as essential for conservation, but there is ongoing debate over what kinds of regulations are the most effective, and how best to balance conservation with the needs of the expanding human population. These continuing controversies point to the need for analysis of how both protected areas and the nearby built environment affect wildlife diversity, as well as of how land use regulations affect nearby human communities. Management implications of this research include determining which land use regulations are most effective in promoting high-quality wildlife habitat, and informing policy makers as to the impact of their conservation decisions.

Ph.D. Student: Kathryn Frens